I looked at the table without seeing it, my mind too consumed with Chase’s broad shoulders and back on display. Strong forearms. Handsome feet. Hey, feet could be sexy. His body could be all mine in a matter of minutes if I lost the game.
Chase wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t perfect. But he saw me. Accepted me. Hadn’t forgotten me. Not truly. He’d convinced me I had a place in his heart. He’d already weaseled his way into mine.
Sometimes you have to lose some to win some. That was a saying, right? I focused back on the table. The nine-ball was perilously close to one of the pockets. I leaned in to take my shot. Chase was holding his breath, mesmerized by my breasts swaying over the table. I glanced at him through my lashes and smiled as I sank the nine-ball in the pocket without looking. “Oops, guess I lose.”
It took a few moments for my words to register with Chase, but when they did it was like someone flipped a switch, and he stalked toward me. “Does that mean I can collect my prize?”
Instead of answering, I traced my hands up his chest and around his neck, tilting my head back to look into his blue eyes. He took it for the invitation it was and bent his mouth to mine. That first kiss was whisper soft, his lips brushing mine. The velvety smooth kisses infused me with aching desire. My pulse beat with every stroke, building to a steady drum in my head, in my heart, and between my legs.
He broke away with a groan, breathing hard. My legs trembled, and I tried to catch my breath. Chase rested his forehead against mine for a moment before moving around me to push the balls out of the way and boost me onto the green velvet. My thighs widened to create a cradle for his, and he stepped into my heat. Chase still wore his jeans, and the friction of his fly rubbing against the silk between my thighs was deliciously slippery.
He cupped my chin in his hands and kissed me softly before moving on to trace my neck and chest with his lips. “As promised. I’m doing everything I can to earn that happy ending.” The soft sandpaper of his tongue scraped against the tendons at the base of my neck before he softly scored the area with his teeth. I shivered in response and felt myself grow slick. At this rate, we were both going to make a mess of his jeans.
My hands fell to his waistband, slowly running my fingers under the edge and around, feeling only hot skin. It was my turn to groan. “Chase, are you wearing underwear? Now I’m disappointed I didn’t sink at least one more ball. I had no idea the full monty was next.”
I could feel his lips curve against my skin before he made his way back to my mouth, leaving a trail of sensation behind. I lost myself in his kisses, letting my hands run over his firm torso and shoulders. Exploring the hollows, his skin burning beneath my fingertips. Chase’s busy hands stroked down my back, unhooking my bra clasp and dragging the straps down my shoulders. The lace tugged across my body, sending shivers over my sensitized skin. I couldn’t help but undulate my hips closer to his to try to assuage the ache between my legs.
I reached for the button on his fly, intent on moving us forward when he placed his hands over mine. “Not yet. I want to make sure I keep all of my promises first.”
He kissed me deeply, his body curving over mine, grasping my shoulders and leaning me back until the felt of the table caressed my back. Chase kissed his way down my rib cage, and I arched slightly, trying to follow his lips as he lifted from my body. His hands moved to my hips, and I stiffened slightly.
“Don’t worry; I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll treat them gently.” With that, his hands slowly grasped the edge of my panties, dragging them a centimeter at a time down my hips, revealing my mound to his appreciative eyes. I closed my own, carrying the image of the lust in his expression with me.
He placed a lone kiss to my right hip as his hands continued to magic off my black bikini briefs. The slow slide of the fabric down my legs was echoed by Chase’s rough hands as he brought them to my ankles and off my body.
Crouched in supplication, he opened my legs wider, and grasping my ankles, started kissing up the right side of my body. A kiss to the inside of my knee made my whole body spasm, and I couldn’t contain my sigh. Chase noted my response and slowed further as he worked to the inside of my thigh, to my hip bone again, and up my side. I squirmed as he kissed along the sensitive side of my ribs. He completed his journey along the arch of my shoulder and the hollow of my throat, smiling at how fast my pulse was beating there, before finishing at my mouth.
His lower body pressed into mine, the weight a delicious, sweet relief. He rubbed his hips against mine, and while part of me cursed the barrier of his jeans, I loved the friction of the fabric against my delicate skin.
“Chase, for the love of everything, please lose the jeans. I’m dying here.” I groaned as he reluctantly pulled his body from mine with a sigh. “Even a few seconds without you is more than I can bear, but I’ve passed the point where this will be easy ...” I watched through hooded eyes as he flipped the button on his fly and carefully lowered his zipper.
He winced. “Hazards of going commando?” I asked with
